Improvement in revolving fire-arms



E. S1. LE-AYYCROFI. ,Y Revolving F ire-Arm. Nol 112,471. l Patented March 7, 1871.

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EDWIN S. LEAYOROFT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENT, TO COLTS PATENT FIRE-ARMS MANUFAOT URING COMPANY,

on HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1l2,l17l, dated March 7, 1871.

To all whom t may concer-n:

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. LEAYCRCFT, of the'city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bevolv ing Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My. invention relates to revolving -breech tire-arms, having reference to a method of suspending the revolving breech or cylinder in the frame.

It has for its object to provide for the free rotation of the cylinder; and it consists in the combination, with the many-chambered cylinder, of a peculiarlyformed axispin, on which the breech is free to turn, and which is itself also free to turn on its axis, and of a removable support for one end of the said pin, constructed, combined, and arrangedsubstantially in the manner hereinafter set forth.

Heretofore the cylinders of revolvers have usually been sustained on fixed axis-pins. This arrangementis objectionable because the rotation of the cylinder is liable to become impeded by powder smoke bein g forcedin between the pin and the cylinder, forming a deposit there, which gradually accumulates and impedes more and more the rotation of the cylinder, until, after comparatively few rounds have been fired, great difficulty is experienced in operating the arm.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

In the several figures of the drawings similar letters of reference denote the same part.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of parts of a pistol embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 tis a similar view, with the parts in such positions that the cylinder may be 4removed from the frame. Fig. 3 is an end view of the cylinder, and Fig. 4 an end view of the supporting.

bar.

a is the frame of the pistol; b, the barrel; c,

the chambered cylinder, the axis of which is parallel with that of the barrel.

dis the center-pin. Its axis corresponds with that-of the breech. This center-pin is longer than the breech. c, itsbody, is cylindrical, and fits loosely in the central hole ofthe breech, so that the breech may turn freely thereon. The rear end of the center-pin enters a recess at c in the frame a, while its front end, which is conical, enters a correspondingly-shaped cup in the end of a supportingbanf, which is fixed by a transverse pin or key, g, in a socket formed in the frame a, beneath the barrel. When the key g is removed the bar f may be slipped forward endwise. The ends of the pin d are so fitted in their supports that the pin is free to turn on its axis.

Near the front end ofthe piu d is a grooved ange, h,which,when the parts are in the proper position for the use of the pistol, (see Fig. 1,) bears against the bottom of a recess, i, formed in the front end of the breech c.

' The ratchet 7c, by which thebreech is rotated, surrounds the axis-piu hole, and is arranged in theusualway. (See Fig.3.) Allother parts of the pistol may be constructed and perform their functions in the customary manner.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The anged part h of the frontend of the center-pin d bears against the bottom ofthe recess t' in the breech and acts as a valve; and when the gases of explosion (which escape between the barrel and the breech) are blown forcibly against the end of the breech the flange, covering as it does the joint between the center-pin and breech, is closely pressed against its bearing by the force of the gas, so a-s to prevent the gas and smoke from entering the joint and from forming au accumulation of soot there. The conical form of the center'pin end and of the cup in which it turns is advantageous as to offering less opportunity for soot to accumulate there. By the jarring of the parts in tiring any deposit at that place becomes loosened and works out from the joint.

It will be readily understood that the rotation of the cylinder is with my invention but It is perforated along its axis by a cylindrical hole.

little likely to become impeded from any cause, many-ehambered cylinder, c, free toturn on the for if itsturnin gon the center-pin be prevented center-pin, all constructed and arran ged sub.- then the pin may turn in its supports, and vice stantiallyin the manner herenbefore specified, versa. for the purpose set forth.

What I claim as my invention, and desire EDWIN S. LEAYCROFT. to secure by Letters Patent, is- Witnesses:

The center-pin d, free to turn on its axis, and R. GOODENOUGH, Jr., the movable support f, in combination with a FRED J. STORES.. 

